The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)
With the commencement of repair works on the Kara Bridge section of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway yesterday, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has cautioned motorists, including drivers of security and government vehicles, against driving against traffic on the highway.
The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Works, last week announced a six-week partial closure of the expressway to enable repairs on expansion joints at Kara Bridge, Magboro Bridge and Arepo–Punch Bridge. The ministry said the closure became necessary to resume critical rehabilitation works earlier suspended on the Lagos-bound section of Kara Bridge following public complaints over prolonged traffic congestion.
The FRSC stated that repair works on the route would last at least two months. The commencement of the repairs has already triggered traffic congestion around Kara Bridge, where two expansion joints are being fixed simultaneously using faster-curing materials to speed up the process. Work is ongoing on both sides of the bridge.
However, the FRSC warned that contraveners would face penalties as the repairs continue. The Lagos Sector Commander of the corps, Kehinde Hamzat, issued the warning while speaking with journalists, noting that reports of some security and government vehicles driving against traffic despite restrictions were unacceptable and constituted an abuse of office.
He observed that the consequences imposed by the management of the affected agencies were often more severe than those imposed by the FRSC.
“The kind of penalty given by their management is much more than the one we would think we want to give, because it’s a stain on the agency and a stain on the person in question. It’s an abuse of office, which is not supposed to be,” he said.
Hamzat explained that the damaged sections of the road had been responsible for several crashes, particularly as motorists attempted to dodge oncoming vehicles. He also identified overloading as a major contributor to road damage, adding that weighbridges would be deployed to curb the practice. He appealed to motorists to exercise patience during the temporary disruption in the interest of safety.
According to him, strategic deployments had been made along the corridor to prevent motorists from driving against traffic, with officers of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army and FRSC personnel jointly enforcing compliance.
He added that several motorists who attempted to violate traffic rules had already been arrested and that FRSC personnel would remain on duty throughout the repair period.
Earlier, the Ogun State Federal Controller of Works, Michael Komolafe, apologised to motorists for the inconvenience and assured that improved traffic management arrangements would be put in place to ensure swift and durable repairs. He disclosed that the expansion joints on the three bridges had deteriorated significantly, posing safety risks and contributing to crashes, adding that the Minister of Works, David Umahi, had directed that urgent repairs be carried out.
